Merlot, Push Polls, and the Ghost of Finebaum Yet to Come

By Christopher M Peeks October 22, 2025

Last night, while enjoying a glass of Merlot, I threw a blanket over myself as the chilly October air crept through my drafty 19th-century home. I had begun to enjoy the glass of wine I poured when my phone started ringing, interrupting my nightcap. With hesitation, I glanced at the screen, expecting another spam call as I am inundated with them hourly each day. The name on my device said Charity call. With reluctance, I hit the answer button and said hello. When the voice spoke back and did not answer with an Indian accent, I set my cocktail down. Then the questions flowed like fruits from the vineyard of the adult beverage I drank.

The person proceeded to ask me if I was a Republican and if I planned to vote in next year's Alabama GOP Senate primary. I affirmed. Next, they asked my opinion of the candidates. I have had the privilege of interviewing Attorney General Steve Marshall and Rodney Walker, and I know Barry Moore. I like all three of them. I have no reason to dislike the others, so I told the interviewer I viewed them all favorably.

After that, the person wanted to know who I plan to vote for in the primary. I gave them a name. Next, they included Paul Finebaum's name and asked who I would choose. At that moment, it dawned on me like a bright January sun that they were conducting a push poll, so I readily played along. I changed my choice to Mr. Finebaum, and they wanted to know why. I quickly came up with something off the top of my head, and when I finished speaking, they wanted me to elaborate further. So I obliged.

Then they asked a series of questions. If I knew Paul Finebaum was a former Disney employee who would fight the woke DEI agenda, would that make me more likely to vote for him or less likely?

The next question they asked was whether I knew Attorney General Steve Marshall was a liberal who got elected as a Democrat and voted for Barack Obama, would that make me less likely to vote for him.

Next, they asked if I knew Barry Moore had voted to raise taxes and had a $45,000 tax lien on him for unpaid taxes, would that make me less likely to vote for him?

They did not ask about the other three; clearly, as this poll sees the two aforementioned candidates as the frontrunners.

What does this mean? Was the poll commissioned by Paul Finebaum to get desired results, or did a group commission it to report back to him? Is Finebaum running? We'll find out soon enough.

If he does run, this will shake up the race like opening champagne bottles at a New Year's Eve party. A Finebaum candidacy has to give the others concern. He has name recognition; everybody knows him on sight, and even the people who may not like him may vote for him anyway, just like the Alabama fans did with Tommy Tuberville.

One operative who spoke to me on the condition of anonymity said he thought this election cycle so far was sleepy, and I agree, but this campaign season may be about to get as lively as the countdown on New Year's Rockin' Eve in Times Square.

Christopher M Peeks

Reporter and Columnist

Alabama Political Contributor

Paul Finebaum